Employment History:
Associate Professor, English Department, Babes-Bolyai University (1977-1982); Lecturer, English Department, Babes-Bolyai University (1973-1977); Assistant Professor of English, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj, Romania (1971-1973)

Published Works:

Public Speaking Experience:
Ms. Grecu has done public speaking for the University of Nevada, Reno Public Speaker and for various local companies.

Why She is an Expert:
Dr. Grecu has more than 40 years of professional experience in comparative literature. She contributed to three volumes of the “Dictionary of Literary Biography” [DLB], published by the Gale Research Company. “I wrote as many entries as I was allowed to at the time in two of the volumes,” she remembers. “I edited practically everything that was sent to us.” She also contributed to the introduction, which she wrote with her colleague, Professor Rathbun. The three volumes she worked on are now in all university libraries of the United States.

Best Advice:
“Dedicate your time to your work. Keep your mind and heart open to understanding and teach it to younger generations. It’s my hope to keep our humanity, culture and language alive; as well as to promote to future generations our values and sensitivity to beauty.”

Passionate about:

Biography Excerpt:
It's difficult to overlook Monica Maria Grecu's resounding passion and depth of knowledge about English and comparative literature during our recent interview. A lecturer in the English department at the University of Nevada, she continues to work with gusto even after more than 40 years in the field. Dr. Grecu also teaches drama at three different levels to seniors and post-graduates. Her special angle is to explore the dramatization of her favorite subject, Joan of Arc (also the subject of her Ph.D. research). “I enjoy widening students' horizons to culture, education and general knowledge through literature,” she says.

     

Cambridge Who's Who: How have you seen education change through the years, from your methods to the education [system] at large?  
MONICA MARIA GRECU :  There are drastic changes. Books are available now that weren't available before. There are also plenty of anthologies. During my initial years in teaching, I had to focus on critical approaches without having the manual or the text in front of me. I would try to explain material to my students by giving quotations or paraphrasing the content. Now, everybody has access to books through the web. That’s a tremendous help.

What has been your favorite subject to teach students?
I teach drama at three different levels to undergraduates and post-graduates. I love courses which are based on a theme. One of my favorite themes is Joan of Arc in world drama. I have a selection of [relevant] plays – probably the best in the world on the theme.

Do you have any favorite playwrights?
I love George Bernard Shaw and [Henrik] Ibsen; I especially like [Luigi] Pirandello.